Sanctuary Housing Pay Out £15,000 in Compensation to Client Living in Major Disrepair

Background

When Miss C moved into her property owned by Sanctuary Housing in 2016, it was riddled with mould, damp and leaks. Naturally, she was concerned about the impact of these things on the health of her and her two children.

Representation

After many years of complaining and not much being done, Miss C instructed May Atkinson at Irvings Law to pursue a claim on her behalf – looking to get the necessary works carried out, as well as compensation for the distress and inconvenience she had to endure.

We obtained a surveyor’s report confirming that there was £7,000 worth of outstanding repairs. Unsurprisingly, Sanctuary still refused to carry out any works and therefore we issued court proceedings.

Resolution

Sanctuary initially made an offer of £5,000 to settle the claim, but we pushed on as we believed that the value of the claim far exceeded the offer made to our client. Shortly before trial, Miss C’s claim was settled for £15,000.

We are often faced with landlords who refuse to deal with disrepair claims until the eleventh hour. At Irvings, we push and push so that we get the best possible outcome for our clients, no matter how long or how difficult the journey is.

Miss C says, ‘I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything you have done for my girls and I. There are not enough words to describe our appreciation. Without you, I would be still living in that hell with nothing. I honestly don’t think I would be alive now. My health has been affected so much, I just didn’t realise how bad things had gotten until I look back now. Your patience and time taken to listen to me has been everything throughout this process. You have been amazing, so thank you once again.’